North-East Asia Clean Air Partnership (NEACAP)

With support from NEASPEC member States, the proposed partnership would provide the basis for strategic cooperation, through exchange of information, scientific, technical and policy collaboration, taking into account various technical and scientific initiatives and instruments that exist in the subregion.

During 2014-2016, the outcomes of technical and policy studies as well as numerous consultations were reported to Senior Officials Meetings (SOM-19 and SOM-20). At SOM-21, the extensive preparatory process resulted in a proposed voluntary subregional framework, North East Asia Clean Air Partnership (NEACAP).

The aim of the proposed partnership is to ensure the protection of the environment and human health from air pollution in North-East Asia. NEACAP not only complements existing subregional mechanisms, such as Long-range Transboundary Air Pollutants in Northeast Asia (LTP) and Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET), but also supports new science-based, policy-oriented cooperation.

Target pollutants: PM2.5, PM10 and Ozone and their linkages with other pollutants including SOx, NOx, Black Carbon, NH3 and VOCs.

Click on the image to expand

Project History

Click on the "+" to learn more about our past projects and events

A holistic subregional framework for sustained cooperation on TAP, built on the need the need for strengthening science-based, policy-oriented cooperation that builds connections between science and policy, etc.

The project aimed to enhance cooperation on assessment and mitigation of transboundary air pollution in the subregion through the promotion of common methodologies and establishment of a framework which would function on a continual basis.

A series of assessments and consultations under NEASPEC spanning from 2012 demonstrated the need for strengthening science-based, policy-oriented cooperation that promotes a comprehensive approach covering all components of transboundary air pollution management, builds connections between science and policy, and provides channels for open and effective exchange of knowledge and information.

The project was implemented with Asian Development Bank to increase technical capacity of coal-fired power plants in China and Mongolia to reduce SO2 emissions and provided training including: emissions standards, emissions control, emissions monitoring.

Transboundary air pollution has been recognized as one of the most serious environmental challenges in North-East Asia due to a range of factors, such as geographical proximity of member countries, increase of energy consumption, lack of sufficient technology, rapid urbanization, and inadequacy of existing regional frameworks that address the problem.

North-East Asia faces complex challenges from air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, and Ozone and their linkages with other pollutants including SOx, NOx, Black Carbon, NH3, and VOCs. For example, many North-East Asian cities have recently experienced sharp peaks of extremely high levels of air pollution, especially fine particulate matter in relatively short periods of time.

Click on the image to expand

Presently, the only subregional coverage related to air pollution in the region is the Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET). However, the problem of air pollution goes well beyond acid deposition. Therefore, NEASPEC strives to enhance the scope of multilateral cooperation on transboundary air pollution by connecting subregional experts and existing collaborative mechanisms to generate a coordinated and integrated approach to policymaking and problem-solving.

North-East Asia Clean Air Partnership

Building the foundation for collaboration through technical projects and a holistic subregional framework